兒女英雄傳

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25327

Title

兒女英雄傳

Language

zh

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A comedic yet poignant tale of a young man named An Gongzi who, after saving his father from illness, faces harsh judgment from a wealthy widow and her family. Through witty dialogue and moral reasoning, An Gongzi defends his actions against accusations of ingratitude and social impropriety, ultimately proving that true virtue transcends social status and rigid conventions.

Summary up to 500 words

In this excerpt from *The eBook of 儿女英雄传* (The Story of the Heroic Son and Daughter), the narrative centers on a tense confrontation between An Gongzi, a young man seeking to rescue his father from imprisonment, and the formidable Lady Thirteen (Shisan Jie). The scene opens with An Gongzi washing his hands in a basin, a gesture of purity and resolve, which Lady Thirteen finds amusing given the chaotic circumstances. Despite her initial mockery and attempts to dissuade him, she ultimately acknowledges his determination. After a meal where Lady Thirteen eats sparingly compared to the others, she proposes a strategic alliance: she offers to escort An Gongzi's party to the capital to petition for his father's release, provided they first marry her to An Gongzi's father, effectively merging their families. An Gongzi vehemently refuses, arguing that such a union is inappropriate given his father's status as a commoner and his own role as a loyal subject. He emphasizes that his mission is solely to save his father, not to seek personal gain or political advancement. Lady Thirteen presses further, questioning his refusal and suggesting that his hesitation stems from a lack of understanding of the world's complexities. The argument escalates as An Gongzi draws a dagger, declaring his unwavering commitment to his filial duty and refusal to compromise his principles. He invokes the Confucian ideal of 'not serving two masters,' asserting that he cannot betray his father or his moral integrity. Lady Thirteen, recognizing the depth of his conviction and the potential danger of the situation, sheathed her own weapon and conceded the point. The passage concludes with An Gongzi's steadfast resolve, highlighting the themes of filial piety, moral integrity, and the clash between pragmatic political maneuvering and unyielding ethical principles. The tone is dramatic and intense, underscoring the gravity of An Gongzi's mission and the respect he commands despite his youth.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25327.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25327.epub

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2026-08-14 04:30 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Fiction